Fusion energy is the process of generating power by fusing atomic nuclei together, which releases a significant amount of energy. This process, which powers stars including our Sun, involves combining light atomic nuclei, such as hydrogen isotopes, to form heavier nuclei, such as helium, while releasing energy in the form of heat and light. Fusion energy is highly appealing as a sustainable and clean energy source because it produces no greenhouse gases and minimal long-lived radioactive waste compared to traditional nuclear fission reactors. The main challenge in harnessing fusion energy is achieving the extremely high temperatures and pressures needed to sustain the reaction on Earth, which researchers are currently addressing through various experimental technologies like tokamaks and laser-based systems.
Major milestone in European and Japanese contributions to ITER fusion energy project. The ITER fusion energy project marks a significant milestone with the completion of…
Researchers expand the quantum mechanical descriptions of nuclear fusion reactions. Low-energy nuclear fusion reactions are influenced by the migration of neutrons and protons between fusing…
A team from Princeton has developed a machine learning method to control plasma edge bursts in fusion reactors, achieving high performance without instabilities and reducing…
Researchers at PPPL are exploring the use of machine learning to enhance the design and operation of stellarators and tokamaks. The intricate dance of atoms…
Researchers successfully simulate a novel combination method for managing fusion plasma. In their ongoing quest to develop a range of methods for managing plasma so…
A promising option for creating a productive and sustainable energy source on Earth is the fusion of hydrogen nuclei. The problem? Extremely high pressures and…
Scientists take advantage of imperfections in magnetic fields to enhance fusion plasma. In the Japanese art of Kintsugi, an artist takes the broken shards of…
Detailed study of high-temperature superconducting magnets built by MIT and Commonwealth Fusion Systems confirms they meet requirements for an economic, compact fusion power plant. In…
Methods pioneered using the Laboratory for Laser Energetics’ OMEGA laser system show potential for sparking fusion on a larger scale. Researchers at the University of…
A Princeton-led team has developed an AI model to predict and avert plasma instabilities in fusion reactors, showcasing real-time control improvements and setting the stage…
The Joint European Torus (JET), one of the world’s largest and most powerful fusion machines, has proven its capability to consistently produce fusion energy and…
Fast ions and plasma waves in fusion reactors engage in a complex dance of energy transfer, with resonance and collision impacts playing significant roles. This…
Neural networks guided by physics are creating new ways to observe the complexities of plasmas. Fusion experiments take place under extreme conditions, with extremely high-temperature…
New observations at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility offer vital insights into energetic ions in fusion plasmas, key for fusion power development and space plasma…
Perturbing the edge magnetic field of a tokamak produces a counterintuitive response: particles entering the confined region rather than escaping it. A tokamak uses magnetic…
Fusion’s success as a renewable energy depends on the creation of an industry to support it, and academia is vital to that industry’s development. A…
Federal funding brings together experts to chart a viable path to realizing fusion energy as a clean power source. The University of Rochester’s Laboratory for…
EPFL started up a variable-configuration tokamak reactor in 1992. Today, EPFL is a leading research institute in nuclear fusion, with the goal of replicating on…